Submission from Spokes Canterbury
Reference: https://letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/church-cnr
Tēnā koutou katoa
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the new options for Church Corner
Introduction
Spokes Canterbury (http://www.spokes.org.nz/) is a local cycling advocacy group with approximately 1,200 followers. Spokes is affiliated with the national Cycling Action Network (CAN – https://can.org.nz/). Spokes is dedicated to including cycling as an everyday form of transport in the greater Christchurch and Canterbury areas. Spokes has a long history of advocacy in this space including writing submissions, presenting to councils, and working collaboratively with others in the active transport space. We focus on the need for safe cycling for those aged 8 to 80. Spokes also supports all forms of active transport, public transport, and has an interest in environmental matters.
Proposal
Spokes strongly supports Option A, which provides the best and safest outcomes for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. This area is well used by cyclists and pedestrians. It is close to the South Express Major Cycle Route and cyclists want to cross to get to shops and restaurants on the other side of the road. It is close to four schools and the university, and provides access to the after hours Medical Centre and pharmacy, is a major bus corridor and a major east/west traffic route.
Cyclists are using many routes through the intersections. Confident cyclists are taking the lane, less confident cyclists are using both official shared paths and footpaths. Pedestrians are also crossing the roads in different places. (See survey of cyclists and pedestrians 8.10- 9.10am on Tuesday 29/10/24 at end of this document)
Option A
- Provides the safest crossing for pedestrians and cyclists across Yaldhurst Road and getting to the crossing point via Main South Road by reducing the volume of traffic.
- Eliminates the right hand turn simplifying the road layout for all users and eliminating the crashes. The simpler the layout the more likely drivers will see and obey the traffic signals at the pedestrian crossing. There was another T-bone crash recently with sharp bits of metal and glass spread across the existing crossing for the last week.
- Creates a better flow of traffic along Yaldhurst Road which will speed up public transport. The traffic only stops if someone triggers the pedestrian crossing. Vehicles can also safely get into the lane they wish as many turn at Hansons Lane.
- Makes the pedestrian refuge outside Countdown safer as vehicles are not weaving across lanes as they merge.
- Provides cycle lanes through the intersection on both sides.
- It is the cheapest option, and the fastest to construct.
Option B
This is the worst option.
- Prioritises on-road traffic over pedestrians and cyclists
- Requires two light sequences at the pedestrian crossing to get across the road, which will encourage more dangerous crossing places.
- Retains the right hand turn and traffic trying to weave together at the same time, leading to a significant number of crashes. This is what makes the pedestrian refuge crossing at Woolworths more dangerous, as drivers are looking at how they can get into their preferred lane rather than for pedestrians.
- No dedicated bus lane, which slows down the PT service and leads to unreliability of the service
- No space for a west-bound cycle lane
- Adding lights on Main South Road will encourage more traffic to use this route (induced demand).
Option C
Option C has some improvements over Option B but is still not the best option.
- There is a signalised simple pedestrian / cyclist crossing across Yaldhurst Road. The section across the Main South Road where pedestrians / cyclists cross in front of the right turning traffic lane should also be signalised.
- The west-bound cycle lane is retained.
- The bus lane is retained. There can be 2-3 buses lined up here at times.
- Will induce more traffic on Main South Road.
- Makes it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to cross at the refuge at Woolworths as more gaps in traffic as lights change.
Other comments
- Need a shared path from the Main South Road intersection down Yaldhurst Road to Brake Street (ideally on both sides of the road) and a refuge crossing at Brake Street so cyclists and pedestrians can avoid the Curletts Road / Yaldhurst Road intersection. This intersection needs safety improvements but is no longer on the NZTA priority list.
I would like the opportunity to present to the Council on this submission and I am happy to discuss or clarify any issues that arise.
Submissions Coordinator
Spokes Canterbury
submissions@spokes.org.nz
